Split lung perfusion: A new method to test the effects of chemical agents on pulmonary metabolism

Abstract

An isolated and perfused lung preparation was developed which allows increased flexibility and efficiency in evaluating the effects of either gaseous or circulating chemical agents on pulmonary metabolism. This split lung perfusion (SLP) combines the advantages of isolated whole lung perfusion studies with the advantages derived from the use of paired organs. The right and left lungs are perfused and ventilated simultaneously and independently. Using aniline hydroxylation and p-nitroanisole- O-demethylation as parameters of tissue mixed-function oxidase metabolism, we found that enzyme activities were the same in the right and left lung. When the left lung was ventilated with NO 2 (20 ppm) and the right lung was ventilated with air (internal control), aniline hydroxylase activity was significantly inhibited about 20%. Using statistical tests to analyze the effects of acute exposure to ventilated NO 2 on pulmonary aniline hydroxylation, it was found that the coefficient of variation was reduced five-fold using the SLP, as compared with data obtained using the whole lung perfusion technique. It is concluded that the SLP allows for more efficient testing of the effects of chemical agents on pulmonary metabolism by reducing experimental variability and requiring few animals.